September 3, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 3, 2016

The release from Cannonsville is steady around 800 cfs.  The abrupt rise in flow and drop in temperature made fishing tough yesterday.  There were a few bugs on the water but the fish were hesitant to rise.  Either the increased water volume had the fish looking for a new home or the drop in water temperature shut them down.  Hopefully everything has settled down to the new flow and temperature and we’ll see some more activity today.  Olives and cahills have been the mainstay over the last couple of days with a few sulphurs and isonychias mixed in.  We are seeing tricos in the air but you’ll have to find a long flat pool to find fish at this flow.  Definitely carry your flying ants.  If you venture on to the first few miles of the upper main carry some white flies with you.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

September 2, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 2, 2016

After having a steady release of 500 cfs for most of the Summer a lot of us were wondering when something crazy would happen.  The release was cut to 400 cfs yesterday due to a change in the FFMP charts.  This morning the release from Cannonsville was increased to 795 cfs. This is likely due to the downstream flow targets.  Our best guess is that they are not going to run water out of Lake Wallenpaupack this weekend and the recent rains missed us dropping the flow in Montague, NJ.  At some point we will likely be cut back to 400 cfs when they start to release downriver again.  Hopefully they will step it down gradually when the time comes rather than drop us 50% in one shot.  Dropping the release 24 hours before they increase the release seems a bit crazy but I’m sure they will say they had to run the releases that way due to the FFMP.  If that’s the case then the Flexible Flow Management Plan isn’t all that damn flexible.

Nymphing will be tough today since the increased release probably knocked a bunch of the slime loose.  Streamers may productive but check your fly often.  The hatches should still come off on the upper West Branch. The water temperature change will be less dramatic closer to the dam.  The lower West could go either way today. If the water temps drop quickly it may shut the bugs down initially but then we may see increased daytime hatching as the cooler temps level out. Tomorrow everything should settle in and offer decent fishing provided the higher release continues.

steady, down, and up

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

September 1, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 1, 2016

Update:  The current release from Cannonsville is 400 cfs under the FFMP Table 4F

September 1st and we still have a release of 500 cfs from Cannonsville.  We have a cloudy sky and cooler air temperatures.  There is a slight chance of showers this morning but nothing major in the forecast.  Winds will pick up mid day to around 10 mph but will drop back down as the evening approaches.  We had decent olive hatches on the West Branch last night mixed with a few sulphurs and cahills.  The fish were rising but very picky on size and pattern.   Definitely carry some low profile olives in #20 -24.  Flying ants are still a good bet when the fish reject your imitation.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

August 31, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 31, 2016

There were a few clouds around yesterday afternoon but we did have our share of sun.  There were enough olives, small sulphurs, cahills, and flying ants to get some fish rising.  Flying ants have become very important over the last few days so definitely carry some in #18 – 22.  There have been some tricos in the morning.  If you see good numbers of them on the water and no fish move to another spot.  We are finding them eating in some pools and not others.  The weather looks great today with good cloud cover with a chance of light rain or storms.  Winds will be low around 6 mph.  It looks like the best chance of rain is overnight but the forecast is for negligible amounts.  We already have the clouds this morning so things are looking good for a decent olive hatch.

Samantha put one in the net yesterday afternoon

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

August 30, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 30, 2016

Despite the sun yesterday people did find rising fish.  The fly of the evening ended up being a #14 cahill.  There were small sulphurs, small olives, and a few golden drakes but the fish were happy eating the cahills.  It’s nice to finally see some fish eat flies bigger than a #20.  Today loos good with low winds around 3 mph with some clouds moving in during the day.  We may even get some rain tomorrow afternoon.  The cooler nights have kicked in and we should be in for cooler daytime temperatures through the weekend.  While the mainstem is still to warm for trout the smallmouth fishing has been decent on small minnow patterns and crayfish imitations.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

August 29, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 29, 2016

We should have a little cooler weather today with air temps in the high 70’s.  Wind gusts will be around 10 mph but should drop back in the evening.  It looks the forecast is changing every couple of hours but right now our best chance for light rain and cloud cover is Wednesday.  Keep the normal patterns with you to cover olives, small sulphurs, cahills, and golden drakes.  Isnonichias have been around but we have not seen a heavy hatch of them.  Do not go to the river without flying ant patterns.  We are seeing decent numbers of them in the afternoon.  The flows remain steady with the best temperatures on the West Branch and upper East Branch.  Both the lower East Branch and Mainstem are starting off at 69 degrees this morning  so they are in decent shape for smallmouth fishing but not for trout.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

August 28, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 28, 2016

The forecast is calling for another clear day with winds gusting to 9 mph.  The river should fish similar to yesterday.   The best dry fly action is still on the upper West Branch above Hal Eddy. We are still seeing a mix of olives, sulphurs, golden drakes, cahills, and a few isonychias.  The hatches have been a bit sporadic and sometimes later in the day but generally patience has paid off.  The lower West Branch has had some activity but mostly when the sun drops in the evening.  The lower West is the place to be if you want to nymph due to the green slime in Deposit.  Nymphing has been best before the sun hits the water but some people are finding productive riffles during the day.  Move around if you’re not getting any action.

Lina with a nice fish from yesterday. Photo by Chris Calabrese

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

August 27, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 27, 2016

The bright sun held some of the hatching back but when the bugs finally came the fish were rising.  We’re still fishing a decent mix of sulphurs, blue winged olives, cahills, isonychias, and the occasional golden drake.  The cahill hatch has been decent over the last couple of days.  They are not coming off real heavy but there are enough of them to get the fish rising.  It’s been nice to throw a #14 fly for a change.  If they reject the big flies go right back to the #20 – 24 flies.  We’re in for another sunny day with no chance of rain.  The winds will be real low staying below 5 mph.  We’re expecting the river to fish exactly like it did yesterday.

Jared with one in the net yesterday

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

August 26, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 26, 2016

Yesterday’s rain held off until overnight but we had clouds move in early and stick around all day.  It must have been a light rain- the ground is wet but the rivers flows barely budged.  We have some heavy fog right now but that will burn off in the next hour or so.  The clouds seemed to push the hatches and we had better hatches on the lower West Branch then we’ve seen in a while.  Olives # 18 – 20 mixed with some sulphurs #18 – 20 should cover you.  It looks like today’s forecast has shifted to more sun with a smaller percentage chance of a thunderstorm.  We should be a bit warmer today with air temperatures reaching the mid 80’s.

Allen and Samantha mixing it up with some smallmouth

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

August 25, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 25, 2016

We should have a couple light thunderstorms moving through this afternoon into tomorrow.  The forecast is calling for low precipitation amounts and light winds.  Today and tomorrow could be really good days to be on the water.  Definitely carry your olives and sulphurs.  On the rainy days we’ve seen some larger olives hatching so make sure you have some #18 flies with you.  The river levels have dropped back and are fairly steady.   The West Branch is in great shape for floating and wading.  he lower East and Mainstem are still heating up in the afternoons.  Smallmouth fishing on the lower Mainstem has been good.

Jared put one in the net yesterday

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

August 24, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 24, 2016

The Cannonsville release continues to be 500 cfs.  We are basically in the same pattern we’ve been in for the last month or more.  The river flows have dropped back down from the runoff and have settled back to normal.  We are looking at sunshine today with little wind.  Last night was another cool on with air temperatures in the 50’s.  Most of the daytime hatching activity is still occurring on the upper West Branch above Hale Eddy and the Upper East Branch towards Downsville.  Sulphurs and olives are making up the bulk of the hatch.  There is some green slime up top so if you are nymphing stay below Hale Eddy.  Despite the cool nights the Mainstem at Lordville peaked at 68 degrees yesterday and is starting off at 65 today.  The East Branch at Fishs Eddy peaked at 69 yesterday afternoon.  We are still giving these rivers a break and are only fishing the West Branch and the Upper East Branch.  If the cool down continues we should see water temperatures drop but so far they have not dropped enough.

John on the river this week. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

August 23, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 23, 2016

The wind was tough yesterday but lower than the 20 mph predicted.  There were some sulphurs and olives hatching on the upper river and the fish were eating them between the wind gusts.  The clouds hung around much longer than expected and that definitely helped.  The fish were happy to chase streamers with a few committing to the eat.  Today is much cooler and the high air temperature will only be around 80 degrees.  We are starting off at 51 degrees this morning so the water temps have dropped a few degrees.  Winds will be low peaking around 6 mph in the afternoon.  It looks like we are on a slight warming trend but will be much cooler than we’ve grown accustomed to.  There are a lot of tricos around but you have to really hunt to find a fish eating them.  Nymphing  has been a better morning bet.

Allen with a West Branch brown. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)